A Swelling of the Ground*

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Billy
Posts: 1384
Joined: 22 Jun 2006, 10:56

A Swelling of the Ground*

#1 Post by Billy » 20 Dec 2022, 03:07

A Swelling of the Ground*

I walked to a clearing where an old tudor with white
fence arose as if from a page of a story set in
the Northeast part of the country. Airy woods,
thick and vibrant, with an old world atmosphere,

surrounded the premises. In an upper window,
curtained in white lace, stood a beautiful female
form, a visage of independence and mystery.
She appeared to look directly at me, or through

me. With unaccustomed bravery, I strode
to her porch and rapped at the door, heedless,
whether she would answer, or who would answer.
After what seemed the lapse of time it takes

a shadow to disappear, the door slowly opened
to no one, at first. Then from behind appeared
the woman in the window. Frail, yet a power to
stun death itself. Her hair pulled back as if to let it

down would unleash forces of poetry as yet unwritten.
She could not speak, not from shyness, but from
the habit of being alone. Her world hers and hers
alone. Not that she did not desire a lover, even

for an afternoon. Or would it last a lifetime and
more. Would it last for an eternity she could
not share with another without losing herself.
Had she lost herself long ago in a world of words.



*from the poem, "Because I could not stop for death"

Kenneth2816
Posts: 1619
Joined: 01 Jun 2008, 09:17

Re: A Swelling of the Ground*

#2 Post by Kenneth2816 » 20 Dec 2022, 04:10

Well done. Good idea to add the footnote

BobBradshaw
Posts: 2683
Joined: 03 Jun 2016, 21:03

Re: A Swelling of the Ground*

#3 Post by BobBradshaw » 20 Dec 2022, 06:33

Terrific, imaginative concept. Good poem.

Michael (MV)
Posts: 2154
Joined: 18 Apr 2005, 04:57

Re: A Swelling of the Ground*

#4 Post by Michael (MV) » 21 Dec 2022, 21:35

Influenced by and about Emily Dickinson

Reminds me at times, as if Poe were writing about Emily Dickinson, or one of his female characters.

Poe & Emily - 2 of my kindred literary spirits

Esp like the incisive:

"Frail, yet a power to
stun death itself."


8)

Michael (MV)

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